Dunbar Funeral Home honors First Responders with cookout

IRMO, SC (WOLO) — A simple meal can be a small way to say a big thank you — especially to our First Responders.

Dunbar Funeral Home hosted an inaugural cookout Wednesday afternoon for First Responders, honoring the dedication and courage of our local heroes.

“We’re with them in a moment of heartbreak, and to be able to be with them in a moment where it’s a little more lighthearted and more about fellowship, it’s great to make those relationships with them that last. Past couple of months have been pretty difficult for a lot of our First Responders in the area, a lot of tragedy, so it’s something we wanted to put together to give back to them.,” says William Lynch, Managing Director of Dunbar’s Dutch Fork Chapel.

Lynch is also a first responder himself, having served as a volunteer firefighter for the past 10 years through the Columbia Fire Department.

“It holds a special place in my heart. My grandfather was a fireman, so it’s something that’s kind of in our blood,” he says.

The cookout also coincides with the 24th anniversary of the September 11th attacks — which killed over 400 First Responders and just under 3,000 others that day.

“We picked this date specifically to be around that time where there’s a lot of reflection. Not just in our community here in Irmo, Columbia, Chapin, but around the country. A special time for those guys and gals to come in. We have folks here from Columbia Fire, Irmo Fire, Irmo Police, Columbia, Lexington County, SC Highway Patrol, SLED and DNR are all here today, so it’s just great to be able to honor them and recognize the work that they do day in and day out that keeps us safe,” says Lynch.

And while this is Dunbar’s first cookout for First Responders, Lynch says it won’t be their last.

“I think we can already tell it’s been a very successful event and I look forward to doing this more in the future to help give back,” he says.